Caladan Oceanic’s team went out to search for USS Johnston in the Philippine Sea. In 1944 the ship was destroyed by World War II. They came across an incredible squid.
The submarine was more than 20.000 feet beneath the surface. Two explorers captured the shadow on the seafloor. Later investigations revealed that it was a juvenile bigfin squid.
Long, thin terminal arms and tentacle-like filaments were the hallmarks of the squid’s first observation at hadal depths. They represent one of the deepest marine environments on Earth.
Human eyes last saw a bigfin shark in 2014. However, this particular specimen was only 15,400 feet beneath the surface.
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The two submarine explorers captured the shadow of a young bigfin, which was then subsequently analyzed and proven to be a young bigfin.
Bigfin squid – or Magnapinna – are known for their long arms and tentacles and can measure up to 22 feet in length, but the one spotted last month was a juvenile so it was not fully developed it measured just three inches long.
Deep-sea researcher Alan Jamieson from University of Western Australia made the discovery of this squid using footage that had been collected by researchers. However, the video was released only in December 2021. The sighting occurred earlier in the year.
He spotted the showdown on the screen while watching the footage and sent it to Mike Vecchione (a Smithsonian Institution zoologist), Smithsonian Magazine reports.
Vecchione determined that the creature was a magnapinnid based on its outline.
Human eyes last saw a bigfin shark in 2014. However, this particular specimen was only 15,400 feet beneath the surface.
Alan Jamieson from University of Western Australia was a deep-sea scientist who discovered the squid through footage taken by researchers in the Philippine Sea.
However, the shipwreck wasn’t discovered until April 2021. A second dive to the wreck revealed the squid shortly afterwards.
Remains of USS Johnston are also among the most deepest ever recorded, and the team has now mapped these areas.
USS Johnston, a WWII destroyer, was destroyed in the Pacific in 1945 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
With the loss of 186 people on board, the ship went down four miles below the surface of the sea.
Bigfin squid – or Magnapinna – are known for their long arms and tentacles and can measure up to 22 feet in length, but the one spotted last month was a juvenile so it was not fully developed it measured just three inches long
Here is an image showing an adult bigfin Squid
The former US Navy officers managed to locate the USS Johnston after a series dives. They then spent many hours mapping and surveying the wreck of the ship, which measures 376 feet in length.
Victor Vescovo was an American private equity investor and retired naval officer. He also spoke with the BBC to discuss the difficulties in finding the wreck. Jamison shared footage which eventually led to the discovery the the bigfin Squid.
However, the shipwreck wasn’t discovered until April 2021. A second dive to the wreck revealed the location of the squid.
It is well-known for its bravery in fighting the Japanese at Battle of Samar. USS Johnston was outgunned and defeated by Japanese forces. She led an attack on several lightships that fought a massive fleet to surround it.
He explained that the wreck was so deep there’s not much oxygen there. However, the ship is still remarkably intact, except for damage from its furious battle.
This vessel is known for her heroic actions in the Battle of Samar. USS Johnston was outgunned and eventually surrounded by the Japanese. She led an attack with a small number of lightships against a huge fleet.